Premier League Preview: Manchester City - Newcastle United

By James Daly

Bet

Bet

Bet

Bet

To the surprise of absolutely no-one, Manchester City today announced they had made losses of a whopping £121 million in the last financial year. A collective "is that it?" swept across the rest of England but if Roberto Mancini's team continue their impressive start to the season, City fans may well consider it money well spent.

City lie fourth in the Premier League - having beatn reigning champions Chelsea - and are top of their Europa League group. Mancini has asked fo six months before he is judged on his tenure, but if City win a European trophy and finish in the Premier League top four it will probably be considered a success.

They were perhaps lucky to come away from their clash with Juventus on Thursday with a point after Alex Del Piero's free-kick came crashing down off the underside of the bar and bounced on the line, but City have proved that they can kick it with the big boys so far this season. Which is probably the least fans would expect about shelling out more than £100m on new talent.

A home match against Newcastle should be a home banker, although the Magpies have already proved they are no push overs with wins at Chelsea and (admittedly lackluster) Everton. City, though, will be banking on a home win.Hughton, we have a problem

Newcastle might be looking rather healthy this season, but their record at City is not great. They haven't won at their opponents since 2000, when the Citizens played at Maine Road, and haven't won against the Sky Blues anywhere since 2005.

But they hadn't won at Everton either before last week's 1-0 victory. Having said that, Man City aren't struggling at the foot of the table, but still the Magpies will be buoyed by recent performances.

And that will be no coincidence that former England defender Sol Campbell is back in first-team football after his free transfer move to St James' Park. The 36-year-old will have a tough time keeping Carlos Tevez quiet on Sunday, but stranger things have happened. Like the Argentinian's shin pad celebrations for example.TEAM NEWS

Manchester City

Mancini will be without Pablo Zabaleta after the full-back strained a hamstring during the 1-1 draw with Juve on Thursday. Dedryck Boyata and Joleon Lescott can expect to be called upon as a result.

David Silva, James Milner and Nigel de Jong will all hope for a place in the starting XI after starting the Juve draw. Wayne Bridge, Mario Balotelli, Micah Richards and Aleksandar Kolarov are all still longer term absentees.

Players to watch

The young England winger continues to win rave reviews with impressive performances down the left and a string of goals. The youngster nabbed City's goal against Juve with a now trademark run in from the left and a cool finish. Expect more against Newcastle.

The sultry Frenchman has made an explosive start to his Newcastle career, with a cracking goal in the 1-0 win at Everton, but Magpies fans aren't quite sure which Ben Arfa will turn up - the match winner, or the sulker. Only Sunday will tell.